Folding cot



(No Model.)

J. W. RUTHMANN.

FOLDING GOT.

Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

IE d N. PETERS Pholoiilhngmpher. Waaflingion. D, C.

ITED STATES FICE.

FOLDING COT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,295, dated December25, 1888 Application filed March 30, 1888 Serial No. 269,030. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN WILLIAM RUTH- MANN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Ehnwood Place, Hamilton county, State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Oots, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a cot which shall be cheap ofmanufacture, durable in construction, and capable of being folded orknocked down, in order to economize space in storing same when not inuse.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, Figure 1is a side elevation of a cot as preferably constructed when ready foruse. Fig. 2 is a side view of same, the legs being folded in.- Fig. 3 isa bottom view of Fig; 2. Fig. 4 is a central cross-section of the cot.

The cot as preferably constructed has the usual side and end rails, A,and the slats a, secured to said side rails in the usual manner forsupporting the springs of the mattress or the mattress itself. The sideedges of the mattress are preferably secured to the top edge of the siderails by tacks or any other suitable means, the object being to have thewhole in a compact form to facilitate in handling and storing same.

Near the front end of the side rails, A, are pivoted the two auxiliaryside rails, B, having the cross-piece b, said auxiliary side railsserving as a head-rest or bolster when the mattress is placed thereon,as shown in Fig. 1. At each end of the side rails, A, and on both sidesof the cot, are pivoted the legs 0, having the cross-pieces O, whichlatter serve as head and foot boards, respectively, when in use. Theselegs are preferably pivoted by means of heavy wooden pins 72, but may bepivoted in any suitable manner and are adapted to fold inward alongsideof the side rails, as shown in Fig. 2 when the cot is stored away andnot in use.

\Vhen in use, the legs 0 of the cot are secured in. an upright positionin the following preferable manner: In the under face of each of theauxiliary rails B is made a notch or catch, 1), of suitableconfiguration, to e11- gage with and catch the top of the cross-piece C,the latter being beveled. This operation of securing the front legs isaccomplished automatically by bringing the legs to a vertical position,the weight of the auxiliary rails B causing the notch or catch to engagethe beveled top of piece 0, when the legs are brought to properposition. The back legs are held in position by any suitable hook orcatch attached to the side rails and adapted to engage a suitablefastening on the legs.

The advantages of my invention are obvious and numerous. It is verycheap of manufacture, durable in construction, and simple in operation.WVhen desired to store a number of cots away, they may be piled one ontop the other, thus economizing much valuable space, this latter being avery great advantage to hotels and lodging-houses. hen desired forfamily use to economize room the side rails may have suitable casters,D, secured thereto, and when not in use the cot may be rolled under theordinary bed.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a folding cot, the side rails, A, having the legs O, pivotallyconnected thereto, and provided with the head and foot rails, C,respectively, in combination with the auxiliary bolster-rails B, hingedor pivoted to said side rails, said bolster-rails having a suitablecatch or notch in their under face adapted to engage the top beveledportion of the headrail 0', the outer edge of the mattress beingattached to the side rails and to the auxiliary bolster-rails,substantially as set forth.

2. In. a folding cot, the combination of side rails, A, legs O, pivotedthereto, head and foot rails, O, and the auxiliary bolster-rails B,having cross-piece b, said auxiliary bolster-rails being hinged orpivoted to said side rails, and having a mattress tacked to said sideand auxiliary rails, and casters D, attached to the side rails,substantially as set forth.

JOHN WM. RUTHMANN.

Witnesses:

HENRY Woosr, E. S. HAVENS.

